So, what exactly is Vedic Meditation?

Let’s start by describing what it’s not:

Sitting super still for long periods of time in uncomfortable positions

Vegetarianism

Throwing away all your things

Abstinence from the pleasures of the world

A religion

A big time commitment

Serious

Difficult

For monks

So how do I meditate in the Vedic way?

Vedic Meditation is not a monastic practice. Meaning it wasn’t designed for people whose spiritual path involves detaching from society. This technique was developed 5,000 years ago in India by and for what they called “householders.” For people who are fully engaged in life. Multi-tasking people with hyperactive minds. People with jobs, relationships, families and stuff. In other words…people like you.

To practice Vedic Meditation, you sit comfortably in a chair with your back supported and your eyes closed. You allow your mind to settle down to increasingly quieter levels of consciousness by utilizing the sound of a mantra. There is no focusing, concentrating or contemplating involved – and you don’t have to control the mind in any way. The technique feels natural, simple and effortless because you never have to ‘try’ to meditate. You never feel that you have to try to push thoughts away or concentrate on images. You won’t be reliant upon CDs, DVDs, or headphones in order to experience the deepest states of your awareness. You also won’t be asked to “think about this and now visualize that” to manufacture a good mood. The time will often fly by, and over time you’ll learn to meditate almost anywhere, no matter how noisy or busy or bright it is.

What if my mind is too crazy to meditate?Or what if I can’t sit still?

If you feel like your mind is always active, or that your body is too fidgety to sit still, you are actually a perfect candidate for this technique because you don’t have to ‘try’ to stop thinking, try to sit still, or ‘try’ to do anything for that matter. ‘Trying’ to meditate is actually what excites the mind and leads to more thinking. Vedic Meditation effortlessly settles the mind and body in the most natural and immediate way.

How do I learn?

Step 1: Attend a free introductory session

The first step is to see if this practice – and this teacher – resonates with you. The best way to do that is to attend an intro workshop, or watch this intro video. (The in-person intro talks are much more in-depth, but the video should give you enough info to whet your appetite.) Intro workshops are generally offered on Mondays, at lunchtime and in the evening. For a complete list of events see our EVENTS PAGE

Step 2: Complete the short, flexible course for beginners

The technique of Vedic Meditation is taught in a gradual, step-wise format over four consecutive days (weekend intensive courses are offered as well). In addition to attending the daily sessions (I offer the same session multiple times each day to accommodate different schedules), students are also assigned practice meditations at home. This insures that everyone will gain enough understanding and experience with both the technique and the underlying principles to become self-sufficient by the end of the course. Here’s how the sessions are structured:

Session 2: (90 minutes) How the mind moves in meditation. The practice of effortlessly allowing the mind to settle.

Session 3: (90 minutes) How the body responds to meditation. Relax, recharge and the release of stress.

Session 4: (90 minutes) Integration & follow-up support. How to become a daily meditator and enjoy all the benefits.

The exact times for the courses vary and will be outlined at your Intro Workshop. Usually, for weekday courses, the same session is offered in the morning and after work to accommodate everyone’s schedule. Other session times may also be available so it’s good to ask. I’ll do my best to accommodate your individual schedule.

Step 3: Check in sessions and refresher courses.

At the end of the course you are self-sufficient, but that doesn’t mean that you’re abandoned. Far from it. I encourage every student to check in via email or by phone once a week for the first month, and once a month for the first year. But that’s just a guideline and you’re welcome to contact me whenever you have issues or questions. Also, after you complete your training, you can repeat the training an unlimited number of times for life, as well as attend weekly and monthly group meditations to get your technique checked. All of this follow-up support is always free of charge.

How much will it cost me to learn?

The basic Intro Session is always free. (There may be a small fee to arrange a private Intro Session.) For those who do learn there is no one set contribution to cover the cost of comprehensive personal training and follow-up support. Instead, in accordance with ancient Vedic tradition, we ask each student to determine their contribution based on a sliding-scale according to where you're at in life. This ensures that people from all walks of life, employed and unemployed, have access to the same high-quality meditation instruction. And also in keeping with tradition, once you learn you enjoy a lifetime of free follow-up support: unlimited access to all future refresher courses, group meditations and meditator-only knowledge meetings, and you have a lifetime Full details will be provided at the intro session, or you may email to inquire after watching our intro video.

Private Courses & Small Group Courses

There's nothing better than the intimate experience of learning with your close friends and family. Or perhaps you would prefer a course designed around your schedule and locations. Either way we can design a private course to suit your needs. Fees for private courses are based on the number of people, locations and other factors. Please inquire by email to samej@vedicpathmeditation.com

Corporate/Executive Programs

Getting a bunch of people in the same organization to meditate has been demonstrated to produce remarkable results, including less distractions from in-fighting and other corrosive forces. So whether you’re interested in a program for top management, or for your entire staff, we can design a program that suits your needs.